Hi Everyone from Sydney Australia,

A few years back I owned a 2008 FJCW in Laser Blue with a Black Roof and Viper Stripes and the blue colourline interior. I absolutely loved that car - it was the best fun car I've ever owned and I haven't seen another Laser Blue one like it since.

I've owned various other cars (Audi, BMW, Alfa Romeo, Mercedes, Volvo) but none of them were as fun to drive or to own as the MINI.

Driving a MINI just makes you smile and driving a JCW makes it permanent!

Due to a change in circumstances, my Laser Blue JCW was reluctantly replaced a few years back by a sensible Volvo which was a very "competent" car but had nowhere near the personality of a JCW with it's manic exhaust burps!

Well, strangely enough my planets came into alignment again this year and as of a week ago I'm again enjoying the exhaust burps of a FJCW!

My new one is a:
2013 (N18) R56 MINI John Cooper Works Hatch 6-spd Manual
- Chili Red with Black Roof and Black Bonnet Stripes
- Chili Package (auto a/c, rain sensor, xenons, BC, lights package, mats etc)
- Heated Recaros in Dinamica/leather combination Carbon Black
- JCW sport suspension
- Comfort Access System
- Chrome Line Interior
- JCW aero kit
- Black Headlights
- Interior Surfaces in Chili Red
- JCW Instrument Panel with Leather Finish (leather dash)
- Rear PDC
- Voice Control
- Harman Kardon sound system
- MINI Visual Boost with NAV
- Bluetooth / Music Interface for Smartphones
- Sun Protection Glazing

My new one is everything that my Laser Blue was and MORE! It has all the extra features that I wished I had got at the time but didn't.

I also couldn't help myself and purchased the same checked flag scuttles as a tribute to my old Laser Blue and also got the black upper and lower grille surrounds (not standard in oz) and put the GP2 rear diffuser on it as well (...I love this!)

I've also noticed that the 2013 model doesn't get the little checked flag badge on the dash anymore, so I've done my own bit of badge engineering courtesy of Ebay...

I'm hoping that "Cooper" Red and I will be together for many years to come!

Cheers everyone and here's some pics for you
(...and the sunshade was my kids idea! haha!)
9c1